Device for distributing a flow of signatures

ABSTRACT

In a device comprised of two rotating cam rollers that are spaced apart from each other by a nip, which device is for distributing a flow of signatures, first and second conveyor belts are disposed so that they can be moved cyclically back and forth onto the guide face of a guide tab respectively associated with them.

FILED OF THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The present invention relates to a device for distributing a flow ofsignatures. The signatures are divided into two partial flows or steamsby first and second rotating cam rollers, a guide tab or tongue, and aconveyor belt system which includes two conveyor belts.

EP 00 54 963 B1 has disclosed a device for distributing a flow ofsignatures or the like into two partial flows of signatures using afirst rotating cam roller with cams and second a second rotating rollerwith cams.

The cams of the two cam rollers mesh with each other to form a nip witha conveyor belt system, comprised of first conveyor belts near the firstcam roller and conveyor belts near the second cam roller, which jointlyexert a clamping action on the signatures. After passing through thenip, the first and second conveyor belts diverge from each other to forman outlet nip region. In the outlet nip region, a cross sectionallywedge-shaped guide tab is provided, with its sharp edge pointing intothe nip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present first and second conveyor belts respectively travel alongguide faces of the guide tab, spaced apart from them.

EP 02 54 037 A2 describes a device for distributing a flow of signaturesby means of a conveyor belt system. In this connection, the conveyorbelts are deflected by means of eccentric rollers.

The object of the invention is to produce a device for distributing aflow of signatures into two partial flows of signatures.

This object is attained according to the invention by the use of adevice which utilizes a pair of rotating cam rollers and a conveyor beltsystem. The conveyor belt system has first and second conveyor beltswhich exert a clamping force on the signatures after they have passedthrough the nip that is defined by the cam rollers. The two conveyorbelts diverge from each other and form an outlet region. The twoconveyor belts can be moved to distribute the flow of signatures intotwo partial flows of signatures.

The advantages that can be attained with the invention are comprised inthat two rollers provided with cams on their circumference faces canperform several functions at the same time. In addition to thedistribution of a flow of signatures into two partial flows ofsignatures, a direction change of the signatures can be executed withoutadditional guide rollers being required for the conveyor belts. Adirection change and distribution of signatures is required when as aresult of excessive production speed, a signature flow cannot beprocessed in a single subsequent unit and consequently must be dividedinto two partial signature flows, e.g. must be processed further inseparate longitudinal folding devices--second longitudinal fold--disposed one above the other.

The circumferences or control faces of the two cam rollers are also usedfor belt guidance so that separate belt guides can be eliminated.Furthermore, particularly in the processing of thick signatures, it isadvantageous if a second one of the two cam rollers has a largercircumference than a first one of the two cam rollers.

It is advantageous that a roller for deflecting the conveyor belt systemis wound around by the conveyor belt system by at least 45°.Consequently, a reliable guidance of the signatures is assured.

It is also advantageous that the roller for deflecting the conveyor beltsystem has a circumference length which is at least three times themaximal length of the signatures to be transported.

As a result, less damaging movement forces are produced between theinner and outer layers of the signatures when they are deflected, i.e.in the direction change.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is depicted in thedrawings and will be described in more detail below.

FIG. 1 shows a cross section through a device for distributing a flow ofsignatures in a first working of the device, with the clearing of afirst transport path for the signatures;

FIG. 2 shows a device according to FIG. 1, but in a second work positionwith the clearing of a second transport path for the signatures; and

FIG. 3 is a reduced depiction of the device according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, the device for distributing a flowof signatures, in accordance with the present invention, is essentiallycomprised of a first roller, for example a first cam roller 1, and asecond roller, for example a second cam roller 2, which can be driventogether and which are disposed axially parallel to each other. Thesecond cam roller 2, and also the first cam roller 1, can be embodied asdeflection rollers which are used to deflect a first belt system 6 e.g.by at least 45°, and preferably between 90° and 180°. In the embodiment,the circumference of the second cam roller 2 is slightly larger and iswound around through more than 90° by the belt system 6 that iscomprised of lower and upper conveyor belts 3; 4. Between the conveyorbelts 3; 4 and "clamped in" by them, signatures 7; 8; 36 that are spacedapart from one another, are transported in a frictionally engagedfashion. Signatures 7; 8; 36 are comprised, in a known manner, of one ora number of paper webs, with layers of one or a number of sheetsproduced by means of lateral cutting. They can be folded or unfolded.

The lower and upper conveyor belts 3; 4 travel into a nip 9 between thecam rollers 1; 2 and subsequently separate from each other at an acuteopening angle or, e.g. of 10°. The conveyor belts 3; 4 thus form anoutlet nip region 16. Guide rolls 13; 14, which are not driven and whichare spaced apart from one another vertically and horizontally, guide theconveyor belts 3; 4 with the belt outer surfaces 11; 12 touching theguide rolls 13; 14, to other subsequent processing stations, such as alongitudinal folding device.

A guide tab or tongue 17, which is fixed to the frame and has the crosssectional shape of a sharp wedge, is disposed between the conveyor belts3; 4 in the outlet nip region 16. A sharp leading edge 15 of the guidetab 17 points in the direction of the outlet nip region 16, i.e. in thedirection of the nip 9 between the cam rollers 1; 2. It is positioned inthe immediate vicinity of the nip 9. The guide tab 17 has an acuteopening angle B, for example of 10°, and at the sharp leading edge 15,points into the opening, outgoing part of the nip 9, and on the othertrailing end, extends in the direction of the guide rolls 13; 14.

The guide tab 17 has upper and lower, straight or curved guide faces 19and 18 respectively. The signatures 7 and 8 are alternatingly guidedpast, sliding against these guide faces, or the inner surfaces 21; 22 ofthe conveyor belts 3; 4 are guided past, likewise sliding against themor spaced slightly apart from them, e.g. by 0.1 mm.

The guide faces 18; 19 can each have a different length. The ends 23; 24of the guide faces 18; 19, respectively deflection rolls 26; 27 aredisposed in the region of the thick trailing end of the guide tab 17 andadditional conveyor belts 28; 29 are wound around these deflectionrolls.

The second lower conveyor belt 28 rests with its inner surface 31against the inner surface 21 of the first, lower conveyor belt 3 andconstitutes a first continuing signature transport path B for thesignatures 7. The second upper conveyor belt 29 rests with its innersurface 33 against the inner surface 22 of the first upper conveyor belt4 and constitutes a second signature transport path C for the signatures8 resulting in, split signatures 7, 8. In addition, the first, lowerconveyor belt 3, together with the second, lower conveyor belt 28,constitutes a second outgoing conveyor belt system 38, i.e. one that isclose to the first cam roller 1. In addition, the first, upper conveyorbelt 4, together with the second upper conveyor belt 29, constitutes athird outgoing conveyor belt system 39, i.e. one that is close to thesecond cam roller 2.

A number of conveyor belts 3; 4; 28; 29 of each conveyor belt system 6;38; 39 are disposed next to one another in the axial direction on thecam rollers 1; 2.

Spanning over 180° of its circumference and extending uniformly in theaxial direction of the first cam roller 1, the first cam roller 1 has a"low" cam 41 with a control face 46 and a low radius r1. Extending overanother 180° of its circumference and also extending in the axialdirection, the cam roller 1 furthermore has a "high" cam 42 with acontrol face 47 and a high radius r2.

The stroke height d of the cam roller 1, which may be from two to threemillimeters, corresponds to the amount of the difference between theradii r1; r2.

The second cam roller 2 can be embodied the same as the first camroller 1. The second cam roller 2, however, can also have a number ofcams distributed evenly over its circumference, for example, three "low"cams 43, each with a low radius r3 and control faces 48 as well as three"high" cams 44, each with a high radius r4 and control faces 49. Thenumber of cams 43; 44 of the second cam roller 2 is preferably anintegral multiple of the number of cams 41; 42 of the first cam roller1.

The lengths 1 e.g. of the control faces 46 to 49 of the cams 41 to 44 ofthe cam rollers 1 and 2 are preferably the same, but do not have to be.

A circumference length of the second cam roller 2 that serves as adeflection roller is preferably at least three times the maximal length,e.g. 315 mm, of the signatures to be transported; in the currentembodiment, the average circumference length (=e.g. 2,100 mm) of the camroller 2 is six times the maximal length (=e.g. 315 mm) of thesignatures to be transported plus six times the spacing (=e.g. 35 mm).

The entire cam rollers 1; 2 or at least their high cams 42; 44 can beexchanged so that for example, instead of the above-described "sixfield" cam roller 2 (3 high cams having 3 low cams) a "four field" camroller with the same circumference length (and with two high cams, whoselengths correspond to twice the length of the cams of the six field camroller, can be used with a matching counter roller. With this "fourfield" cam roller, for example a division of the flow of signatures intotwo partial N.E flows is, wherein in alternating fashion, one partialflow is supplied with two signatures one behind the other and a secondpartial flow is supplied with only one respective signature.

The cams 43; 44 each extend, for example, constantly in the axialdirection of the second cam roller 2. A stroke height e of the camroller 2 corresponds to the stroke height d of the cam roller 1.

It is also possible to provide a number of cams 41, 42; 43, 44 spacedapart in the axial direction of the cam roller 1; 2.

The operation of the device for distributing a flow of signatures inaccordance with the present invention is as follows. Signatures 7 and 8that are spaced apart from each other are guided clamped between theconveyor belts 3; 4 of the first belt system 6 as seen in FIG. 1. Thebelt system 6 can, for example, travel underneath a lateral cuttingdevice in order to produce the signatures in an approximately verticaldirection, until it reaches the second cam roller 2 that also serves asa deflection roller, and by means of this second cam roller 2, itundergoes a direction change of >90°, e.g. 120°. The signatures 7 and 8then travel one after the other to the outlet nip region 16 between theconveyor belts 3 and 4.

The second cam roller 2 presses with one of its "high" cams 44 againstthe outside of the conveyor belt 4 and moves it in the direction of theguide tab or tongue 17. The inner surface 22 of the conveyor belt 4rests against the upper face 19 of the guide tab 17 or travels past theguide face 19 spaced slightly apart from it. Consequently, the uppertransport path C for the signature 7 is closed. As a result of thecontact of the "low" cam 41 of the first cam roller 1 against theoutside 11 of the conveyor belt 3, the transport path B is clearedbetween the inside 21 of the conveyor belt 3 and the lower guide face 18of the guide tab 17 in order to receive the signature 7 and for thecontinued transport to the processing station all as may be seen in FIG1.

Referring now to FIG 2, transport path C is now cleared in order toreceive a signature 8 by virtue of the fact that a "low" cam 43 of thesecond cam roller 2 acts against the outer surface 12 of the conveyorbelt 4. The transport path B is closed by virtue of the fact that a"high" cam 42 of the first cam roller 1, presses against the outersurface 11 of the conveyor belt 3 and moves it in the direction of theguide tab 17. Consequently, the inner surface 21 of the conveyor belt 3rests against the lower guide face 18 of the guide tab 17 or travelspast the guide face 18 spaced slightly apart from it. A signature 36 hasalready reached the transport path C before the signature 8 enters theupper transport path C.

The cam rollers 1, 2 preferably have an equivalent circumference speed.

A clearance a of the nip 9 is constituted on the one hand between a"high" cam 44 of the second cam roller 2 and a "low" cam 41 of the firstcam roller 1 (as seen in FIG. 1) or between a "low" cam 43 of the secondcam roller 2 and a "high" cam 42 of the cam roller 1.

In one embodiment, both cam rollers 1; 2 are supported in eccentricbushings, for example, so that the distance 9 can be adjusted.

In summary, the essence of the present invention is comprised in thatthe first and second conveyor belts 3; 4 are disposed so that they canbe cyclically moved back and forth onto the guide faces 18 or 19 of theguide tab 17 respectively associated with them. Cyclic means that, forexample, at the same time or almost the same time, a first transportpath B is closed at the sharp edge 15 or is closed to as large an extentas possible, and a second transport path C is open at the sharp edge 15and vice versa.

A closing of a transport path B or C is only required to the extent thata signature 7; 8 cannot penetrate into this transport path B or C, i.e.there can be a slight distance, such as of a few hundredths of amillimeter, between a conveyor belt 3 or 4 and the sharp edge 15 of theguide tab 17. With each closing of a transport path B or C, at the sametime, the inner surface 21 or 22 of each conveyor belt 3 or 4alternatingly cooperates with the sharp edge 15 of the guide tab 17 sothat a guidance for the beginning of the signatures 7 and 8 is alreadyformed at the front part of the outlet nip region 16 of the conveyorbelts 3 and 4.

With the device according to the present invention, the conveyor belts3; 4 resting against the cams 41; 42; 43, 44 cooperate directly with thecams 41; 42; 43; 44, unlike in the prior art device in which "high" camsor high curve sections cooperate with the respectively further removedconveyor belt. In addition, no separate ball-bearing supported guiderolls are required for the conveyor belts.

Through the elimination of the guide rollers, an arbitrary number and anarbitrary width of the conveyor belts extending in the axial directionon the cam rollers 1; 2 are possible.

With an increased width of the conveyor belts 3; 4 as well as of theconveyor belts 23; 29, only a slight specific surface pressure of theconveyor belts 3; 4; 23; 29 against the signatures 7; 8; 36 isadvantageously required.

The conveyor belts 3; 4 can respectively rest on each other, i.e. one ontop of the other, or can be spaced apart from each other, resting nextto each other against the control faces 41, 42; 43, 44 of the camrollers 1; 2.

While a preferred embodiment of a device for distributing a flow ofsignatures in accordance with the present invention has been set forthfully and completely hereinabove, it will be apparent to one of skill inthe art that a number of changes in, for example, the type of press usedto print the signatures, the drives for the rollers and the belts, andthe like could be made without departing from the true spirit and scopeof the present invention which is accordingly to be limited only by thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for distributing a flow of sheet-likematerial, such as signatures, into two partial flows of sheet-likematerials comprising:a first rotating roller and a second rotatingroller, said first and second rotating rollers cooperating and defininga roller nip; a conveyor belt system including a first conveyor belt anda second conveyor belt, said first and second conveyor belts exerting aclamping action on the sheet-like material and passing through saidroller nip; an outlet nip region defined by a divergence of said firstand second conveyor belts after, in a direction of travel of thesheet-like material, said roller nip; a guide tab in said outlet nipregion, said guide tab having a sharp edge pointing into said roller nipand further having first and second guide faces, each of said first andsecond guide faces being engagable by an associated one of said firstand second conveyor belts; and means to selectively move at least one ofsaid first and second conveyor belts into engagement with saidassociated first and second guide faces, at least one of said first andsecond rotating rollers being a first cam roller having a first numberof cams defined by at least one high radius control face and at leastone low radius control face.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said atleast one high radius control face is engagable with an associated oneof said first and second conveyor belts.
 3. The device of claim 1further wherein said second rotating roller is a second cam rollerhaving a second number of cams defined by at least one high radiuscontrol face and at least one low radius control face.
 4. The device ofclaim 3 wherein said second number of cams is an integral multiple ofsaid first number of cams.
 5. The device of claim 3 wherein said firstcam roller has one high radius control face and said second cam rollerhas more than one high radius control face.
 6. The device of claim 1wherein said control faces on each of said first cam roller have thesame length.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein said first cam roller hasan axial length and further wherein each of said control faces iscontinuous along said axial length.
 8. The device of claim 1 whereinsaid first cam roller has an axial length and further wherein each ofsaid control faces is discontinuous along said axial length.
 9. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein said first cam roller has an axial length andfurther wherein said at least one high radius control face isdiscontinuous along said axial length.
 10. The device of claim 1 whereinsaid conveyor belt system wraps around one of said first and secondrotating rollers by at least 45° before, in said transport direction,said roller nip.
 11. The device of claim 1 wherein said conveyor beltsystem wraps around one of said first and second rotating rollers by atleast 90° before, in said transport direction, said roller nip.
 12. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein said at least one high radius control face isremovably secured to said first cam roller.
 13. The device of claim 12further wherein said at least one removably secured high radius controlface has a first length and can be replaced by a high radius controlface having a second length different from said first length.
 14. Adevice for distributing a flow of sheet-like material, such assignatures, into two partial flows of sheet-like materials comprising:afirst rotating roller and a second rotating roller, said first andsecond rotating rollers cooperating and defining a roller nip; aconveyor belt system including a first conveyor belt and a secondconveyor belt, said first and second conveyor belts exerting a clampingaction on the sheet-like material and passing through said roller nip;an outlet nip region defined by a divergence of said first and secondconveyor belts after, in a direction of travel of the sheet-likematerial, said roller nip; and means to selectively move said first andsecond conveyor belts to distribute said flow of sheet-like material,said means including at least one of said first and second rotatingrollers, said at least one of said first and second rotating rollersbeing a deflection roller engagable with its associated one of saidfirst and second conveyor belts which winds around said one of saidrotating rollers by at least 45° before, in a direction of transport ofsaid sheet-like materials, said roller nip.